PSU Reuses | Portland State University

Materials Reuse Programs

WHY REUSE?

Reusing items reduces waste and supports PSU's sustainability goals. From resource extraction and production to distribution and disposal, the life cycle of an average product has a huge environmental footprint. By choosing durable goods, and reusing existing products, we can greatly minimize impacts on our environment as well as save money. Thank you for supporting resource conservation and stewardship through reuse!

PSU Reuse Room

Portland State's on-campus resource for donating and acquiring used office, school, and home supplies. The Room relies on part-time volunteers, and the door is always open. Members of the PSU community are welcome to come in and find or donate supplies anytime.

Location: Cramer Hall 180

Keep up with the Reuse Room via the PSU Reuses Facebook Page or Instagram! The best way to hear about new supplies on hand, trends, or other reuse and sustainability-related news.

DONATING TO THE REUSE ROOM

Feel free to use the yellow bin in the Reuse Room to donate reusable supplies. If you need assistance getting your donation to the Reuse Room, please email sustainability@pdx.edu and a member of our team will schedule a time to pick up your items. The Reuse Room does not redistribute food or clothing. If you have food to donate, please consider the PSU Student Food Pantry. Services for Students with Children may accept clothing donations.

Interested in volunteering? Email sustainability@pdx.edu

Pop-Up Swaps

From the Reuse Room to various buildings and locations throughout campus, Pop Up Swaps give university members an opportunity to not just donate their unwanted items in a convenient location, but meet their fellow community members and discover the value of other people’s unwanted things. Anyone in the campus community is welcome to come and take free items, and leftovers are brought to the Reuse Room.

If you would like to schedule a pop-up-swap for your building, please contact sustainability@pdx.edu.

CHUCK IT FOR CHARITY

Each Spring, students moving out of residence halls dispose of many usable items. Instead of sending them to the landfill, students have the opportunity to Chuck It For Charity! We collect gently used household items, clothes & blankets, and non-perishable food items to donate to charity.

In spring 2015, nearly 11 tons of clothing and household items were donated to charities such as the Community Warehouse, Cascadia Gaia Movement, and the ASPSU Food Pantry. Watch our Chuck it for Charity video to see us in action!

Green Party Kit

Hosting an event where food will be served? Borrow the Green Party Kit, a set of durable dishes and silverware available for campus departments and groups to use. Submit a request to use the kit and a member of our team will follow up to confirm your reservation.

Note: Program is temporarily on hold, we are hoping to bring this back soon

Reused Furniture & Equipment

The Facilities department operates the Surplus Property Program for larger items such as office and classroom furniture. Contact the Surplus Property Program manager to arrange a viewing of items in stock: x5-4921, or submit a work order to arrange a donation pickup.

Submit a Work Order

MugRunners

A water bottle and thermos collection program that partners with campus computer labs to divert abandoned, durable containers from the landfill and provide university members with a free, clean, reused and reusable option for drink containers. Freshly-washed bottles and mugs are stocked in the Reuse Room after collection.

Currently, Mug Runners visits the Millar Library, Cramer labs, Broadway lab, Student Recreation Center, SHAC Testing Services, and the College of Urban and Public Affairs computer lab. If your lab is interested in participating in this program, please contact sustainability@pdx.edu with your lab location and requested frequency of collection.